Goldenseal Purchase & Information

Alternative Names

Chinese Goldenseal, Eye root, Eye Balm, Framboise de Terre, Fard Inolien, Ground Raspberry, Goldenroot, Goldsiegel, Hydraste du Canada, Hydraste, Indian Turmeric, Indian Dye, Indian Plant, Jaundice Root, Orange Root, Racine Orange, Racine à la Jaunisse, Sello de Oro, Sceau D'Or, Turmeric Root, Wild Curcuma, Warnera, Yellow paint, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow Root, Yellow Indian Paint CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for Goldthread, Barberry, Turmeric, Oregon Grape, Javanese Turmeri, Ox-Eye Daisy

Scientific Name

Hydrastis Canadensis

Why Do People Use Goldenseal?

The oral preparations of Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), like goldenseal powder, are used for swine flu, for upper respiratory and urinary tract infections, allergic rhinitis, nasal congestion, peptic ulcers, gastritis, diarrhea, colitis, flatulence, constipation, urethral and vaginal mucous membrane inflammation, menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. Other oral uses of goldenseal powder are for anal fissures, hemorrhoids, liver disorders, internal hemorrhage, to mask urine tests for illicit drugs, cancer, pneumonia, malaria gonorrhea, fever, post-partum hemorrhage, whooping cough, jaundice, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), child birth and anorexia. Hydrastis Canadensis is topically used as a mouthwash for sore mouth and gum diseases. Other topical usages include for skin ulcers, skin rashes, itching, wound infections, acne, eczema, ringworm, dandruff, herpes labialis and herpes blisters. Ophthalmicall - Goldenseal is utilized as an eyewash for eye conjunctivitis and inflammation. Otologically - Goldenseal is utilized in tinnitus, earache and catarrhal deafness.

Is It Safe To Use?

Possibly Safe - Oral, short-term and for appropriate utilization of goldenseal powder is considered safe. However, for long-term usage safety of goldenseal powder, there is inadequate information available. Likely Unsafe for Infants - Goldenseal’s oral consumption in newborns is considered unsafe. Goldenseal powder constituent, named berberine, may cause kernicterus in infants, especially in those with hyperbilirubinemia and preterm neonates. Likely Unsafe for Pregnant Women - Oral utilization of goldenseal powder is considered unsafe in pregnancy. Berberine is believed to cross placenta and may adversely influence the fetus. Even after birth, kernicterus has been reported in newborn due to the usage of goldenseal by pregnant females. Likely Unsafe for Breastfeeding Females - Berberine and different harmful constituents can be shifted to the newborns through breast milk; so breastfeeding females should avoid the use of Hydrastis Canadensis.

How Effective Is Goldenseal?

Goldenseal is thought to be ineffective in following condition. Urine Drug Tests - Goldenseal powder is frequently believed to cover illegal medications in the urine, yet taking goldenseal powder orally doesn't appear to cause a false negative immunoassay for cocaine and pot test for amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sedatives, cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol and phencyclidine. One gallon of water plus goldenseal powder didn't show any benefit in giving false negative results over water alone. Some individuals also assert that powder form of goldenseal can result in a false positive on a medication screen. However, goldenseal powder does not appear to cause false positives for thin layer chromatography (TLC) or fluorescent polarization immunoassay (FPIA) tests for methadone, cocaine metabolites, amphetamines, opiates or their metabolites.

How Goldenseal Works?

The most effective parts of Hydrastis Canadensis are the root and dried rhizome. The alkaloids berberine, hydrastine, canadaline and canadine are the active constituents in goldenseal powder. But, these alkaloids are inadequately ingested when given orally and may not reach adequate concentration to have significant pharmacological benefits. The berberine constituent has antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activity. Berberine has action against Candida tropicalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella boydii, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Sporotrichum schenckii, Microsporum gypseum, Cryptococcus neoformans, Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. The canadine and canadaline constituents have effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both canadaline and berberine have comparative action against Escherichia coli, yet canadaline has been shown to have more effect against gram-positive bacteria as compared to berberine. Initial studies propose that berberine may hinder bacterial sortase, a protein in charge of adhering gram-positive bacteria to cell membrane. These impacts have not been demonstrated particularly for goldenseal powder. Hypothetically, goldenseal powder can potentially have action against urinary tract pathogens, for example, Escherichia coli. Clinical trials suggest that berberine stops the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 by blocking nuclear factor kappa-b.

What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Goldenseal?

Orally - The oral consumption of goldenseal powder during lactation, pregnancy or for newborn babies can cause adverse outcomes such as kernicterus in infants and a number of fatalities have also been reported. Berberine is a major constituent of goldenseal powder that has been used orally in adults in a dosage of 2 grams per day for consecutively eight weeks and no side effect have been reported due to its utilization. Topically - There is no side effect reported by topical consumption of berberine constituent for up to 20 days.

How Goldenseal Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?

There is no interaction reported between Hydrastis Canadensis and other supplement & herbs.

How Goldenseal Interacts With Drugs?

Goldenseal can interact with following drugs: • Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) • Cytochrome Substrates • Digoxin (Lanoxin) • P-Glycoprotein Substrates

How Goldenseal Interacts With Foods?

No interaction has been documented between Hydrastis Canadensis and various food items.

How Goldenseal Interacts With Lab Tests?

Bilirubin Level - Goldenseal powder may enhance the bilirubin levels in individual. Clinical experiments have suggested that isolated berberine constituent, but not particularly goldenseal, maybe responsible for this effect. Berberine constituent of goldenseal can cause a severe increase in unbound and total bilirubin because it displaces bilirubin from its bound form from plasma albumin.

How Goldenseal Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?

Goldenseal powder can interfere with hyperbilirubinemia diseases and may exacerbate the negative outcomes.

What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Goldenseal?

ORAL There is no typical dosage of goldenseal. Generally dried rhizome or dried root is utilized in a dosage of 0.5 to 1 grams thrice in whole day. Goldenseal is also orally taken as a tea. Such tea is prepared by simmering dried rhizome or root in a quantity of 0.5-1 gram in 150 mL of boiling water and then straining this mixture after 5 to 10 minutes interval.

Comments

Goldenseal is generally found in the deep jungles of Arkansas and Vermont and thus known by this name from the scars of golden-yellow color on the stem base. When its stem is broken into two halves, the scar looks like a gold wax letter seal.

General Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.